ZAGREB, Oct 23 (Hina) - The House of Representatives of the Croatian +Sabor (parliament) on Friday continued its session commenced on +Wednesday with a discussion on the situation in agriculture.+ Introductory addresses were made by
Vladimir Seks on behalf of the +ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), and Zlatko Tomcic on behalf +of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS).+ According to the HDZ, the government should enforce a policy which +will provide all farmers and food manufacturers with timely answers +as to what to sow, in what quantities, the guaranteed prices for +certain products, and as to how much the state will purchase.+ It is necessary to establish agrarian balances, said Seks, adding +the HDZ believes the introduction of further tax concessions is +very important for agricultural development.+ Order must also be restored in the import field as, thus Seks, +import sometimes served only th
ZAGREB, Oct 23 (Hina) - The House of Representatives of the Croatian
Sabor (parliament) on Friday continued its session commenced on
Wednesday with a discussion on the situation in agriculture.
Introductory addresses were made by Vladimir Seks on behalf of the
ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), and Zlatko Tomcic on behalf
of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS).
According to the HDZ, the government should enforce a policy which
will provide all farmers and food manufacturers with timely answers
as to what to sow, in what quantities, the guaranteed prices for
certain products, and as to how much the state will purchase.
It is necessary to establish agrarian balances, said Seks, adding
the HDZ believes the introduction of further tax concessions is
very important for agricultural development.
Order must also be restored in the import field as, thus Seks,
import sometimes served only those who want to earn quickly without
giving any thought to domestic production.
Direct subsidies from the state budget have to be higher. At present
this amount is a mere three to four percent which, said Seks, is ten
times less than in European Union countries.
The government has suggested a new subsidising model, according to
one hectare per arable land, to which Seks also suggested more
favourable loans for agriculture.
The HSS believes the government's agrarian policy endangers
national interests. The government is liable to make a disastrous
mistake failing to abolish Value Added Tax on agricultural
products, Tomcic said.
He also disapproved of the suggested stimulant measures per hectare
of arable land, believing these will in truth stimulate the use of
low-quality seed and less fertiliser, which will result in poor
products.
The HSS demands for the government to within three months put
forward an integral analysis of peasant economies, and to within
two months put forward goals and measures for directing development
and transforming peasant farms.
In Croatia "an unimaginable smuggling of agricultural products"
has been in force for years, said Tomcic, and demanded the
government suggest short-term and long-term agricultural
production balances.
He also suggested the government should determine measures for the
prevention of possible manipulation in manufacturing and the
import of genetically altered food.
(hina) ha jn